Test 2017: Young brands in road bike clothing - jerseys and shorts from Q36.5 and Susy Cyclewear

Q36.5 - www.q36-5.com

Reduced design, top materials and high technical standards - this is how Luigi Bergamo describes the characteristics of his brand Q36.5, founded in 2013. The Q in the name stands for Quaerere (Latin for research) and 36.5 for the body temperature of a healthy person. As the former Assos designer emphasises the importance of "made in Italy", all materials are sourced from his home country and the clothing is also produced there. We tried out the Salopette Dottore L1 trousers and the L1 Pinstripe short-sleeved jersey from the extensive collection for road cyclists.

When you slip them on, you immediately notice the special material: It feels a little crinkly between the fingers and rustles differently than you are used to from other fabrics. The almost seamlessly tailored parts are very comfortable to wear, they mould to the body like a second skin and are perfectly adapted to the racing bike position. The cuffs are wide, elasticated and keep the trousers and jersey in shape without cutting in. Only the braces tend to roll in a little. The padding is relatively tight and follows the leg rotation unobtrusively.
The jersey is superbly equipped, the zip runs smoothly and the back pockets are easily accessible. There are large reflective strips at the front and back. One small point of criticism: on fast descents from around 50 km/h, the material flutters audibly on the shoulder.

PLUS Very good fit and cut, top features, great workmanship
MINUS Very expensive trousers, jersey flapping at the shoulder

Prices
Trousers 235 Euro
Jersey 149 Euro

SUSY CYCLEWEAR - www.susycyclewear.com

Susan Hauwert only started cycling in 2015. She decided to found her own brand because she didn't like the look of the women's cycling clothing on offer. So the newcomer founded Susy Cyclewear in Arnhem, the Netherlands, in 2016. The material comes from Italy and the still small women's collection is manufactured in Poland. We tried out the shorts and the jersey. Our tester felt comfortable from the very first metre in the well-fitting, very soft, comfortable pieces, which are intended as year-round products. The slightly firmer material from which they are made is ideal for tours on the windy North Sea coast, but it is probably too warm for a summer mountain tour.

The cuffs on the sleeves and trouser legs are barely noticeable on slim arms and thighs, but they could be a little more elasticated for stronger women. The full-length zip runs smoothly, the back pockets are very easy to access and the padding does its job unobtrusively even on longer tours. The design also impressed our tester.

PLUS very comfortable, well equipped, good zip, good pockets
MINUS Cuffs relatively tight, heavy material, very warm in midsummer

Prices
Trousers 90 Euro
Jersey 140 Euro